A well-known Renfrewshire restauranteur who was caught drink driving at almost four times the legal limit has been banned from the roads.
Mohammid Shafiq, 43, was given a 45-month disqualification and a £750 fine after racking up his second drink driving offence in five years.
Shafiq, owner of the popular Indian eatery Shimla Cottage, in Bridge of Weir, was snared by police after pulling a ropey U-turn in the village’s Main Street and driving off at speed in his black BMW five series motor, with cops on his tail, on April 25.
The court heard he had been picking up carry out food and was heading home when he was busted.
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At Paisley Sheriff Court, procurator fiscal depute Sobia Kidd said: “At around 11pm on the Saturday evening, police witnesses were in a marked vehicle when they observed the accused’s vehicle carry out a U-turn at the junction of Main Street, Bridge of Weir.
“The vehicle appeared to drive off at excessive speed. Police witnesses proceeded along Main Street in the direction of the accused’s vehicle where it was observed to turn into Moss Road.
“Police noticed the vehicle appeared to slow down and was standing still, where the accused was seen to pick up takeaway food from the passenger door side.”
The prosecutor added when cops approached, “the accused was slurring his speech and he appeared anxious”.
Shafiq confirmed he had been driving and police asked him to take a roadside breath test, which he failed at his home address.
He told police: “Just take me to jail. I had a bottle of wine at 4pm.”
Shafiq, of Lomond Crescent, Bridge of Weir, pleaded guilty to driving while the proportion of alcohol was 86 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 22 mcg.
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The court was told Shafiq was convicted for drink driving five years ago when he recorded a reading of 97 mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, and he was disqualified for 27 months.
His defence agent said: “He accepts it was dangerous for him to be driving and the consequences could have been much more serious.
“He is regretful and ashamed for his actions. It has caused him considerable stress and anxiety.
“He does have an alcohol problem and his family have been helping him in tackling this.”
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She added that Shafiq had not touched alcohol since June and was also seeking help from experts in tackling his drink problem.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew voiced alarm at Shafiq’s second conviction for drink driving in a five year period, telling him: “I am concerned at the level of your reading this time, as well as the last time in this court.
“You have a second conviction for drink driving within a 10-year period.”
He handed him a 45-month road ban and fined him £750.
